comparison intelligence
Dumaguete vs Iloilo
Dumaguete has the stronger overall score, while Dumaguete has the lower monthly estimate.
Dumaguete wins overall
near identical$50/mo gap0.1 score gap
quick decision
Who wins where?
Dumaguete
7.0/10
$1,150/month · Philippines
MAYBEpros
- Very low estimated monthly cost around $1,150
- English is widely usable
- Island access for diving and nature trips
cons
- Not ideal for fast-internet-dependent work
- Healthcare is limited compared with Manila or Cebu
- Tropical heat, rain, and storm disruption matter
Iloilo
6.9/10
$1,200/month · Philippines
MAYBEpros
- Low estimated monthly cost around $1,200
- English is widely usable
- Strong local food culture
cons
- Not ideal for fast-internet-dependent work
- Nightlife is limited
- Tropical heat and storm disruption matter
cost breakdown
Where the money goes
Rent$505$525
Food$230$240
Transport$80$85
Coworking$115$120
Entertainment$140$145
Utilities$80$85
money / equivalent lifestyle
What your money buys
To keep roughly the same spending flexibility you get from $1,500 in Dumaguete, you would need about $1,575 in Iloilo.
Based on relative monthly cost estimates in this guide.With $1,500/month
DumagueteLeaves about $350Estimated cost: $1,150
IloiloLeaves about $300Estimated cost: $1,200
score breakdown
Category-by-category
Money
Cost of living4.74.7tied
Remote work
Internet2.83.5Iloilo
Daily life
Food3.64.5Iloilo
Walkability3.43.4tied
Comfort & safety
Healthcare3.43.4tied
Safety3.73.7tied
Weather3.83.8tied
Lifestyle
English friendly4.24.2tied
Nightlife3.33.3tied
what changes if you move?
Relocation impact
Moving from Dumaguete to Iloilo gives you food scene and remote-work reliability for about $50 more per month, but trades off few obvious category sacrifices.
Monthly spending+$50
Annual spending+$600
Overall scoreAbout the same
InternetBetter (+0.7)
FoodBetter (+0.9)
Food
3.6 → 4.5 · +0.9
No clear downgrade
Moving from Iloilo to Dumaguete gives you no major measurable upgrade and saves about $50 per month, but trades off food scene and remote-work reliability.
Monthly spending-$50
Annual spending-$600
Overall scoreAbout the same
InternetWorse (-0.7)
FoodWorse (-0.9)
No clear upgrade
Food
4.5 → 3.6 · -0.9
Choose Dumaguete if...
- You want to keep monthly spending below roughly $1,500.
- You want stronger budget room, saving about $50 per month versus Iloilo.
- You want the stronger overall score without a major monthly cost penalty.
- You want the cleaner value pick: higher score and lower estimated cost.
Choose Iloilo if...
- You need a stronger remote-work connection signal.
- Food quality and variety are a major part of your daily life.
final verdict
So, which one makes more sense?
Dumaguete has the stronger overall score, while Dumaguete has the clearer budget advantage. Iloilo is measurably stronger on remote-work reliability.